Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/26/16
From Press Release and Staff Report
The Holy Cross men’s lacrosse team will play Bucknell in the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinals tonight at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in Lewisburg, Pa., at 7:00 p.m. Here is what you need to know as the Crusaders prepare for their first ever appearance in the Patriot League Tournament.
The Philly Connection
Philly Connection – Pictured are the four Crusaders from the Philly area, Brendan McGonigle (La Salle), Sean Kirkpatrick (Wilmington Friends), Will Friedman (Malvern native, Avon Old Farms), and Richie Palazzese (Episcopal Academy).
Holy Cross features four Philly grads, junior midfielder Brendan McGonigle (La Salle), sophomore midfielder Richie Palazzese (Episcopal Academy), junior attackman Sean Kirkpatrick (Wilmington Friends), and sophomore midfielder Will Friedman (Malvern native, Avon Old Farms). McGonigle and Palazzese have been regulars off the bench while Kirkpatrick and Friedman also have played roles off the bench.
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW:
No. 6 seed Holy Cross (4-10 overall, 3-5 PL), which has won three straight Patriot League games for the first time in program history, will travel to Lewisburg, Pa., to take on No. 3 seed Bucknell (9-4 overall, 5-3 PL) at 7:00 p.m. at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in the Patriot League quarterfinals.
This will be the Crusaders’ first ever appearance in the Patriot League Tournament.
With a win the Crusaders will advance to the Patriot League Tournament semifinals and play No. 1 seed Navy in Annapolis, Md., on Friday, April 29 at 4:30 p.m.
The Crusaders earned a spot in the Patriot League Tournament by defeating Boston University, 11-7, on April 22 in front of a crowd of 2,218 at Kuzniewski Field.
The Crusaders’ three Patriot League wins ties the school record which was set last season.
The Crusaders fell to Bucknell in this season’s matchup by a score of 18-12 in Worcester on March 12. Go here to read the recap.
The Bison are second in the Patriot League with 11.31 goals per game. Bucknell has won four straight games. The Bison are looking for their second Patriot League Tournament championship as they previously won in 2011.
The senior class has led the Crusaders to their most Patriot League wins during a four-year span in program history.
CRUSADERS TO MAKE FIRST EVER APPEARANCE IN PATRIOT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT:
The Crusaders will be making their first ever appearance in the Patriot League Tournament which started in 2004.
The Crusaders tied for sixth place in the Patriot League standings with Boston University at 3-5 as the Crusaders won the tiebreaker by defeating the Terriers, 11-7, on April 22.
The Crusaders’ three Patriot League wins ties the program record which was set in 2015 when they also went 3-5.
PATRIOT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT:
The six-team Patriot League Tournament is set. Navy (7-1) is the No. 1 seed, Loyola Maryland (7-1) is the No. 2 seed, Bucknell (5-3) is the No. 3 seed, Army West Point (5-3) is the No. 4 seed, Lehigh (4-4) is the No. 5 seed and Holy Cross (3-5) is the No. 6 seed.
The quarterfinals are on Tuesday, April 26. Lehigh will play at Army West Point at 4:00 p.m., while Holy Cross will be at Bucknell at 7:00 p.m. The semifinals and championship will be played at Navy on April 29 and May 1. The brackets will re-seed after the quarterfinal round.
LONGEST PATRIOT LEAGUE WINNING STREAK IN PROGRAM HISTORY:
The Crusaders have won three straight Patriot League games for the first time in program history.
Holy Cross earned wins over Lafayette (11-6), Colgate (12-6) and Boston University (11-7).
This is the first time the Crusaders have been on a three-game winning streak in eight years. Holy Cross defeated Lafayette (16-11), Vermont (5-4) and Marist (10-6) in the 2007 season.
The last time the Crusaders have won four straight was a five-game winning streak in 1988.